Hurts talk new album 'Exile': 'It felt like we were on the run'

The duo will release Exile as their second studio collection on March 11 and have described the record as being "dirtier" than their debut.

Asked about the sound of their new material, singer Theo Hutchcraft told NME: "Dirtier. Fuzzier. Wilder."

Elaborating on the meaning behind the title Exile, he added: "[It's] that sense of being in a weird place.

"Freedom, fear, isolation, joy, religion, punishment, the decadence that comes with exile – always being on tour, always being far from home. It did feel like we were on the run. Always chasing something."

The pair also revealed details of their party lifestyle since the success of their 2010 debut album Happiness.

"I remember being in Miami, in a car full of girls. I'd been up for days," Hutchcraft reminisced. "Suddenly, my nose just exploded. Blood streaming down my face. Just at that moment we came to a police roadblock.

"The only thing I could think to do was mop up the blood with banknotes. So I stuffed them up my nose, wiped the mess away as best I could."

He added: "We were waved through the roadblock and ended up at a party at [Transformers director] Michael Bay's mansion. I never actually met him, though.

"We had to leave in a hurry because my mate had thrown up in his swimming pool. Greatest night out ever."

Hurts will release 'Miracle' on March 10 as the lead single from Exile.